About Us
YBDT celebrated its 33rd anniversary as a registered student organization in 2022. Our outgoing captain summarized the 18-19 dance season best:
"While it’s hard to truly summarize how strongly our team has performed this year, one particular moment that summarizes our years is when the emcee at Harvard Invitational informally declared Yale Ballroom as the ‘best cheering section’ of the competition. What this particular moment demonstrates is the supportive, nurturing environment that YBDT creates to help complete novices become competitive dancers. Over the course of the year, 28 members (including 14 new members) finished in the top quarter of all competitors at at least one competition, which demonstrates our overall progress as a team."
We look forward to helping more dancers take up ballroom as a competitive sport! Membership is open to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students.
We organize practices and lessons, taught by veteran team members and professional instructors, catered to all skill levels from newcomers to champions. If you are interested in learning to dance, feel free to observe any of our practices and try a complimentary lesson. No prior experience is necessary. You do not need to come with a partner, as we can match you with one.
Yale Ballroom Dance offers club lessons, which are taught at a level for social dancing, and competitive lessons, which will prepare you for ballroom dance competitions throughout the semester. If you are interested in joining at either level, please e-mail our Publicity Director at webmaster@yaleballroom.org, to be notified when the next dancing season begins!
Our Mission
YBDT focuses on providing an accepting and inclusive environment for everyone. We organize practices and lessons, taught by veteran team members and professional instructors, catered to all skill levels from newcomers to champions. Everyone is welcomed and no prior dance experience is required! Members have the opportunity to participate in competitions and showcases each semester. We are also committed to sharing our love of dance with a broader community through volunteer performances and social dance events open to the entire Yale community.
Our Values
The Yale Ballroom Dance Team is and will always be first and foremost a family. We value inclusion, community, empathy, and above all, respect for one’s teammates. The leaders and members of YBDT must always strive towards making this organization an inclusive and caring one. To that end, YBDT condemns any and all forms of discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious belief, or ability. This includes, but is not limited to: sexual harassment and assault, hate speech (such as the use of racial or homophobic slurs, etc.), and exclusion of team members from YBDT events and socials on the basis of their identity and/or background.